I have really enjoyed reading all of your answers to other newbie posts about English riding. So I thought I'd ask my own!

Mine are in regards to showing. I'm confused about the classes. What is the difference in long stirrup and short stirrup? I have done no showing at all so I know these sound stupid but anyway... Are the classes divided by ability level and age? I hear people talking about doing wtc on the "flat" and then I hear about jumping. I am just confused about all the different classes. What is the difference in novice and beginner?

I'm sure that what classes are offered depends on the show, but I thought someone out there might be willing to give me some info. I am hoping to go to my very first show at the end of October. I am 24 and would consider myself to be an experienced beginner (if that makes any since) so I am just curious which classes I might be in (I'm currently solid at wtc, and jumping 2'6).

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to English riding. Long stirrup and short stirrup are entry level classes. Long stirrup is for "big people"---adults-- and short stirrup for kids. I don't know if there's a standard age cutoff or if it varies from show to show.
Classes on the flat are classes with no jumps. In classes where there are jumps, you're evaluated on both your ability over the jumps and your ability on the flat.
I don't show myself...it just doesn't interest me...but my trainer has been pestering me to show long stirrup. She describes it as being both flat work and two simple lines of jumps.
You can read through the posts on the HUnter Jumper forum for information about appropriate clothing & tack for showing.

Thanks for the reply! I found the information very useful.

an over fence class is, as you know, jumping.
a flat class is one without jumps that is judged on the horse or on you if it is an Equitation class
and a hack class is both on the flat and over jumps, usually with two jumps on each side of the arena.

I know that shows and classes may be different in different places, but in twelve years of showing in a few states, that is what those classes have been for me.

good luck!

Thanks!